The Dementors' Kiss

The Daily Prophet the next day carried a sensational lead story. Death Eaters had attacked a number of sites simultaneously over the weekend. St. Mungo's wizarding hospital had been attacked, as had Diagon Alley. A number of highly placed Ministry wizards had been attacked, and reports suggested that the attacks had had a global aspect, with the Dark mark being seen in several European countries, as well as America and Australia. The Daily Prophet ran an article that reported scathingly on the Ministry that, Harry suspected, must have been true. Other than the Dementor attack on Hogsmeade, it seemed, there were no undercover Aurors, no Ministry preparation of any kind in place to counter the attacks. Looking over the top of the paper at Hermione, he knew she'd had the same thought.

The sole bright spot, in so far as there were any, was in the rapid promotion of Arthur Weasley. The International Confederation of Wizards praised Mr Weasley's diligence in having his staff prepared for such attacks, and he was elevated to the role of Deputy Minister of Magic. Fred quietly voiced the suspicion that Cornelius Fudge had sacrificed his own deputy rather than face the music himself. At least the Minister was promising new measures to deal with what he termed "obvious imitators of the long defeated Death Eaters."

The school was in shock for the next few weeks. Almost from nowhere, Voldemort's forces had begun a concentrated terror campaign. Reports from Hermione's parents, and other Muggle families like the Finch-Fletchleys, suggested that the non-wizarding world was yet to pick up on the attacks directly, although reports of strange lights in the sky and unexplained paranormal phenomena seemed to show a marked increase.

And then, as suddenly as the attacks had begun, they stopped. The Daily Prophet, which had been reporting attacks on an almost daily basis, went a week with nothing more than gradually diminishing speculation about the next target of the 'reinvigorated' Death Eaters. Ten days after the last fresh report, even that was gone. Harry couldn't believe the casual dismissal of the events, but Hermione had her own theory.

"The Ministry," she said. "They must be putting pressure on the papers. I mean, we still want to read about these attacks, so I would think that most people in the outside world would as well."

But Hermione was wrong. Harry didn't want to read about the attacks, didn't even want to think about them. How could it be that when his life was suddenly so good, that everything was falling apart? He looked up at the top table, and realised that Professor Dumbledore was looking even more tired now as he had at the end of the previous school year.

"Ron, Hermione," he said. You remember Lockhart's Duelling Club?"

Ron and Hermione nodded cautiously. They could hardly forget the single evening several years ago that had revealed to the entire school that Harry spoke Parseltongue.

"Well," Harry looked around, a little embarrassed. "How well do you know your hexes?"

*

Harry's suggestion that the Duelling Club be restarted was approved with caution. Professors' McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick and Sprout would be supervising, but they had little to worry about. The students worked with quiet intensity on mastering the spells most often used in open combat, and soon morale in the school began to turn slightly upwards. The only downside was how little Harry got to see of Ginny, and Ron of Hermione. Conflicts in classes, excess amounts of homework and Harry and Hermione's supervision of the Duelling Club kept the two couples from spending more than a few fleeting moments alone together at the end of the day.

It was with immense relief that at the end of the Spring term, Harry came down to breakfast with Ron to find Professor Dumbledore tapping his goblet gently and rising to speak.

"In light of the sterling work on the part of the student body of this school in learning how to magically assault one another," he grinned. "I am happy to announce the reinstatement of the Hogsmeade weekend. Next Saturday then," he continued through the storm of cheering. "Next Saturday, all students of third year and above will be allowed to travel to Hogsmeade, under strict supervision, of course. Even so, the visit will have to be shorter than usual, and as such I will ask you to understand that the visit will run only from two pm until five pm. However, I have spoken to the owners of Zonko's joke shop and Honeydukes sweet shop, and postal orders will be accepted over the next week, ready for collection on Saturday."

The great round of applause that filled the Hall made Harry grin widely, and he beamed at Ginny, eager to spend a few hours alone with her. He fervently hoped that it wouldn't be the only chance they'd get over the Easter break for some time together.

*

The four friends worked incredibly hard over the first several days of the holidays. The Duelling Club was every night, but the rest of the time was given over to schoolwork. For once, Hermione didn't complain when the three of them picked her brain about their projects, for even Hermione needed help with a few things.

"Ron..." she said one evening, scraping her hands back through her hair. "What's the anti-arachnid spell?"

Ron, who was obsessive about anything he could use to combat his arachnophobia, and even more obsessive about showing off in front of Hermione, grinned at Harry and said "Aronia Exemae."

"Thanks," Hermione said absently, already leaning forward over her parchment again and scribbling furiously.

*

By the Thursday, though, their hard work had paid off. Their holiday work was done, and even Hermione, reading through it, was satisfied.

"We've all worked really hard," she said, standing up and slamming the Potions text shut. "Now, I think we deserve some fun."

"Finally, some good news," Ron grinned, slipping his arms around Hermione, who smiled a little sheepishly. Harry smiled as well, and tugged gently on Ginny's hand. The two couples tactfully separated, Harry and Ginny going out of the common room and down the main stairs toward the lake, Ron and Hermione going down the back stairs toward the Quidditch pitch.

"Definitely good news," Hermione agreed, when they reached the top of one of the viewing towers.

*

Two days later, the students set off for Hogsmeade just after lunch. They were in understandably high spirits, juvenile spells bouncing back and forth between them as they made their way to Britain's only purely magical settlement. Fred in particular took an apparently overly strong Cheering Charm from Ginny, and had to be carried much of the way by Lee and George, every jolt setting off a fresh peel of giggles until they dumped him on a bench in the town square. He promptly jumped up and grinned evilly at them, before haring off towards the Shrieking Shack with them in outraged but exhausted pursuit.

Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny made their way through the crowds, eager to have a drink in the Three Broomsticks before going their separate ways. Hermione made sure to go up to the bar, although, Harry knew with a grin, Ron never looked at Madam Rosmerta these days. He had his priorities straight.

*

Half an hour later, they left the Three Broomsticks, feeling much warmer from drinking the Butterbeer. Hermione and Ginny grinned at one another.

"See you then."

"Yes."

The two couples turned away from each other, and were about to walk away in opposite directions when a fully grown wizard Apparated in front of them. Harry gasped.

Black robes, a hood, and a bare left forearm on which the Dark Mark glowed in bright red. The wand in the masked wizard's right hand was instantly pointed at the four of them. Even staring at the Mark, Harry was dimly aware of more wizards Apparating around them, all garbed in the same outfits, all sporting the Dark Mark on their bare arms.

Icy fear began to flow through Harry's body, and he felt himself falling, screams surrounding him, the final few moments of his parents' lives being played out around him again and again. Shaking violently, he forced himself away from the pit of misery that accompanied that memory. He opened eyes he didn't remember closing, and took several shuddering breaths as his mind slowly came to terms with the situation.

Voldemort had decided to attack Hogsmeade once more, and this time he was taking no chances. With the Dementors had come the Death Eaters, Voldemort's personal troops, and the outlook for Harry and his friends looked very black indeed.